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Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine learned he will sit for three games for his elbowing infraction that injured Wayne Simmonds.

The Philadelphia Flyers aren't sure how long Simmonds will be out. They announced on Saturday night that the winger had a concussion and will be out indefinitely.

NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan handed down a three-game suspension Saturday for Erskine's hit. He will forfeit $24,324.33 in pay.

The suspension is the longest of the three handed down by Shanahan this season.

Erskine, a first-time offender, wasn't penalized during Friday night's game for the play, which happened quickly and at first glance appeared to be a hard hit. But replays showed Erskine lifting his elbow before making contact with Simmonds.

Shanahan's accompanying video shows Erskine making eye contact with Simmonds before delivering the hit as a way to prevent the forward from breaking out of the zone. Simmonds, whose nose was bloodied but not broken on the play, had a head injury and a little bit of whiplash, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said after the game.

"While we acknowledge there are no malicious intent and that Erskine was reacting to getting beat (to a puck), this nevertheless is a reckless elbow to the head that caused a serious injury," Shanahan said.

Simmonds had a career-best 28 goals last season and had two goals and three assists in eight games this season.

The Flyers moved Tye McGinn into Simmonds' spot on the first line with Claude Giroux and Danny Briere for Saturday's game. Simmonds had moved into that spot after Scott Hartnell suffered a broken foot.

Meanwhile, the NHL said it was rescinding the match penalty that was handed to St. Louis Blues captain David Backes on Friday night.

Backes was ejected for a hit to the head of Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kent Huskins, but replays showed that it was a clean shoulder-to-chest hit. Huskins' head did snap back after Backes made contact because of the force of the hit.

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Brendan Shanahan is in his second season of handing out supplementary discipline. During the 2012-13 regular season, he handed out 15 suspensions and six fines. Total games: 36. Total lost pay: $553,820.21. In the playoffs, he has suspended five players for a total of 12 games. A look at who he has suspended or fined:
Dave Sandford, NHLI via Getty Images

June 5: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith was suspended for one game for what Brendan Shanahan called a retaliatory high stick to the face of Jeff Carter. The Los Angeles Kings center needed 20 stitches. "Even if Carter does chop down on the top of Keith's hand, that still does not justify that extent of Keith's actions," Shanahan said.
Harry How, Getty Images

May 16: San Jose Sharks winger Raffi Torres was suspended for the remainder of the second round for his hit that injured Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll. Though his Torres' shoulder initially hit Stoll's shoulder, Brendan Shanahan said it was a glancing blow and Stoll's head was the principal point of contact. Torres ended up serving six games.
Ed Szczepanski, USA TODAY Sports

May 5: Justin Abdelkader got a two-suspension for charging Anaheim Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman. Brendan Shanahan said Adbelkader launched upward on his hit and he traveled a long distance, giving him ample time to make another decision on the hit.
Kirk Irwin, Getty Images

May 3: Ottawa Senators defenseman Eric Gryba was suspended for two games for stepping up and hitting Montreal Canadiens forward Lars Eller, who suffered a concussion and broken teeth on the play.
Graham Hughes, AP

April 24: Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown was suspended for two games for an elbow that struck the Minnesota Wild's Jason Pominville in the face, injuring him. Lost pay: $34,324.32.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

March 30: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nate Thompson was suspended for two games for an illegal hit to the head of New Jersey Devils forward Matt D'Agostini. Lost pay: $9,729.72.
John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports

March 21: Toronto Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul received two games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman. Lost pay: $45,945.94.
John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports

March 20: Florida Panthers left wing Eric Selleck got the worst of this fight with Carolina's Kevin Westgarth. Shanahan also ruled that Selleck came off the bench on a legal line change to start the fight, a violation of Rule 70.2. That led a one-game suspension, in addition to an automatic one-gamer for instigating a fight in the final five games of regulation. Lost pay: $5,945.94
James Guillory, USA TODAY Sports

March 13: Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry was suspended for four games for a late hit on the Minnesota Wild's Jason Zucker the night before. Zucker, who caught a shoulder in the head, left the game and didn't return. Lost pay: $115,135.12.
Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports

March 4: Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta was suspended for five games for shoving New York Rangers center Brad Richards into the boards the night before. Richards returned quickly to the game, but Kaleta is a repeat offender. Lost pay: $76,219.25.
Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

March 3: Philadelphia Flyers forward Harry Zolnierczyk was suspended for four games for leaving his feet to check Ottawa Senators defenseman Mike Lundin on March 2. Lundin has a concussion. Lost pay: $12,972.96.
Michael Perez, AP

Feb. 25: San Jose Sharks forward Ryane Clowe was suspended for two games for leaving the bench on a legal line change and starting an altercation with Andrew Shaw. The Chicago Blackhawks forward had hit Clowe's teammate, Joe Pavelski, seconds earlier. Lost pay: $39,198.18
Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 20: Vancouver Canucks right wing Jannik Hansen was suspended one game for hitting Chicago's Marian Hossa in the back of the head with his forearm. Hossa left the game and didn't return. Lost pay: $7,297.30
Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 6: Columbus Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky was the first player to receive the new, maximum $10,000 fine for his hit from behind on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi. The fact that Dubinsky rolled off the check and had no prior disciplinary probably saved him from a harsher penalty.
Kirk Irwin, Getty Images

Jan. 30: New York Islanders forward Colin McDonald was suspended for two games for a hit from behind on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy. Lovejoy wasn't hurt on the play. Lost pay: $7,567.56.
Bruce Fedyck, USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 23. Philadelphia Flyers center Brayden Schenn was suspended for one game for a charging infraction against New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov. He skated from the bench directly at Volchenkov and leaped before hitting him. The defenseman wasn't hurt. Lost pay: $4,702.70.
Chris O'Meara AP